davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
COLONIES GREAT BELL.


An official notice has been published
of the great bell for the Cathedral of
Cologne, the solemn Inauguration of
which took place some days ago with
great pomp. The bell weighs $1,000 kilos
or about twenty-six tons thirteen hun
bred weight. The clapper alone weighs 800
kilos, or nearly fifteen three fourths hun
dred weight. It's perpendicular height
is almost 1411s feet; its diameter at the
mouth nearly IL a feet. Twenty-Five cam
non taken from the French were assign
ed by the Emperor William for it's man.
ufacture; 5000 kilos OF tin we're add
ed. It was cast by Andreas Hamm Of
Fraukenthal, and 21.000 marks e1,050)
were paid for the castings. It will be
known as the Kaiserglocke, or Emper-
or's bell; and as the two other large
bells in the cathedral bear the epithsts,
respectively of Pretioso (precious) and
Speciosa beautifully this one is styled
Gloriosa. 1t bears above an inscription
recording that William, the most au-
gust Emperor of the Germans and king
of the Prussians, mindful of the heaven
ly help granted to him whereby he con-
Quoted the late French war to a prosper
GUS issue and restored the German EN-
pire, caused cannon to be taken from the
French to be devoted to founding bell
to be hung in the wonderful cathedral then
approaching completion. A likeness of
st. Peter, the name patron of the church
is on the side, beneath which is quat-
rain in the style of the medieval conceits,
praying that as devout hearts rise
heavenward at hearing the sound of the
bell, SO may the doorkeeper OF heaven
open wide the gates OF the celestial man.
sion. On the opposite side is inscribed
sestet in German, of which the trans
lation is:
81 am called the Emperors bell;
proclaim the Emperors honor;
On the holy watch-tower 1 am placed.
pray for the erman Empire,
That peace and protection
God may ever grant to it.
The bell was solemnly blessed in the
cathedral by the Archbishop Of Col
ogne according to the elaborate ritual
set out in the pontifcale Romanum. The
ceremony was very long, many psalms
being chanted by the clergy and choris-
ters, while the bell was being sprinkled
with blessed water and Amounted with
oh rinpn md tho x,orkioD ~ 81 Tnka
38 40, was chanted by a deacon. In
cense and myrrh were burned within it
and many symbolical rites performed.
The opinions of experts are divided as
to whether the note which the bell sounds
is @. sharp or D.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
AN UNEXPECTED REPLY.

At New York City, in the fall of 1856
case was tried before Judge Souther-
land, in which the law firm of Evarts,
Southmayd & .Choate appeared for the
defense. Mr.. Evarts made the conclud-
ing argument; and the fame OF the great
counselor secured for him considerable
audience Of lawyers from neighboring
courts, in addition to many persons who
had more or less interest in the proceed
inRs.
Mr.. Evarts had been speaking for some
hours. and was evidently nearing his per-
Grafton. He began to sum up his argu-
ments, and asked impressively what an
swer could be made to them. Again he
placed the points in lucid array, and
again asked similar question. Then q
third time he restated his case with vivid
eloquence, and once more, in louder tones
wound up with,
"What is their answer?"
He paused. You could have heard q
pin drop. Suddenly the door of the
courtroom opened, and peddler stick
ing his head and feather-duster into the
opening, cried out
Broomsp
In moment, the room was ringing
with uncomfortable laughter, in which
everybody joined, even the Judge on the
bench and the orator himself Mr..
Evarts, however, kept on his feet, and
was the first to recover composure. With
his hand raised to command attention, as
the roar subsidized, he said solemnly:-
That was not, indeed, the reply that
expected. But you may rest assured
that, when you do get their answer, you
will find it equally frivolous and inconse-
| quent. "-Americdn Magazine.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
HINTS TO HOUSEWIVES.

Delicate Pie.-Whites of two eggs,
four tablespoons cream, one large spoon
full -four, one cup white sugar, one cup
cold water; flavor with lemon. Line
pie plate with pastry, pour in the mix
ture and bake at once.
Washington Cake. : One pound Of
brown sugar, one pound of -four, one-hslf
pound of butter, two pounds of stoned
raisins, four eggs, two teaspoonfuls soda,
dissolved in half cup of hot water, one
half pint of molasses, two grated nut
megs.
COokies.-Two eggs, one and one-half
teacupfuls of sugar, one cupful of butter
one half cupful Of sweet milk, two tea
spoonfuls cream of tartar, one teaspoon
full of soda, nutmeg to taste. Mix in
enough -four to roll, cut into round
cakes and bake in a quick oven.
Apple Jelly. - Use fair, sour apples.
Slice them, skins, seeds and all, and SIM
mer with one-half cup of water, till we'll
cooked and soft. Then strain through
cloth, add pound of sugar to pint of
juice, boil few moments, Swimming till
clear; then pour into glasses, and cover
when cold.
Cream Pufs.-One cup of hot water,
one half cup OF butter, boil together;
while boiling, stir in one cup sifted -four;
move from fire and stir to smooth paste;
when cool add three unbeaten eggs,
stirring five minutes. Drop in spoon
fuls on buttered tins and bake in quick
oven twenty five minutes. For cream
take one cup milk, one-halt cup sugar,
one egg, three table spoonfuls -four;
cook thoroughly and flavor. When cream
and puffs are cold, cut open puffs with a
sharp knife and fill with cream.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
THE MEADOW LARK.

To a great many people the meadow
lark is only voice, but il you follow the
rule laid down at the beginning of your
work and are determined to see as we'll
as hear, you will have little trouble in
finding the owner of the plaintive call
that rises SO mysteriously out of the
grass.
Focus your glass on the meadow and
then listen carefully for the direction Of
the sound. The lark is little larger
than a robin, but, as he is very much the
color of the dead grass that covers the
ground when he first comes north, and
the dry stubble left after the summers
moving, he is hard to see. When you
have found him, you discover that his
general brownish-yellow color is relieved
by bright yellow throat, below which is
large black crescent. When he flies you
recognize him as one of the few birds
characterized by white tail feathers.
He nests in the field, laying his white
speckled eggs in a coil OF dried grass on
the ground.
The peculiarities of his labored fight
are exactly described in Shelley's "Ode
to Skylark," when he says, "Thou dost
float and rum" Flying seems hard work
for him, and he does as little Of it as pos
sible. When he starts up from the
meadow, he goes in straight oblique
line to the treehe wishes to reach.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27

er of the Faith, "and took unto himself al
most as many titles as wives, viz: Gang
liae, Franciae ct Hibernise Rex, Fidei De-
fensor, ct in terra Ecclesiae Anglicsnae ct
Hiberniae Supremum Caput." His Illus
trious daughter, Elizabeth, set the exam
pie Of plain English style as Queen of
England, France and Ireland, Defender
OF the Faith, and her successor, James I.
merely inserted the name of Scotland and
changed the gender. Queen Anne first
used the title "Great Britain" instead Of
England and Scotland. In the Georgian
Era there was a partial relapse into
Latin as "Brittaniarum Rex" And fin
ally the exact style Of the present sover-
eign is "Of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, Queen; Defender Of
the Faith; Empress of India"
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
DUCK AND DRAKE.

"Duck and Drake" is very simple
sport, but very old one. The Greeks
used to play it with oyster shells, and
called it "Epostra Kismos." 1t consists
in flinging piece OF fiat tile or stone,
along the surface of a pond. in such a
way that it skins over the water, touch
ing it several times and rebounding again,
until it finally sinks. He whose stone or
tile makes the greater number of leaps
before it disappears beneath the water,
is the winner. As the sport consists in
throwing away stones, so it is often said
OF a man who throws away his money,
as il it had been oyster shells or stones,
that he is making ducks and brakes OF
it." A "duck" is q stone that has re-
bounded twice from the water; "drake"
one that has jumped up three times.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Whether names are good or bad, ap-
propriate or the opposite, it would seem
that when they once become at all cur
rent or familiar, there is no such thing as
shaking them off. We suppose the name
Canada Thistle" will be used to the end
OF time, in this country, although it is
well known that this species of CIrciun,
is not Indigenous to Canada, but to Eu-
rope. where it has been known for centu-
ries under the common name Of "Cursed
Thistle" which is really an appropriate
name.
Jerusalem Artichoke is another map
propriste and misleading name given to
North American plant introduced into
English gardens about three hundred
years ago from Canada, and under the
name of Canada potato. This species
of Helidnthus is neither an artichoke
nor native of Jerusalem; still these mis-
leading names will probably cling to it
for centuries to come.
The misnamed Irish potato is another
valuable native plant, which may now be
found growing wild on thousands of
acres in New Mexico and Arizona, and
although introduced into Great Britain
under the name of "Virginia Potato,''
the more modern one of Irish potato,
given to it in derision, appears to have
become the most popular. We have a
common American bird generally called q
robin, but it does not belong to the same
genus as the true robin of Europe. But
this is not half so bad as to be obliged TO
honor the Turks by calling a noble men,
Der of the feathered tribe "a turkey" 1t
is true we have some consolation in
knowing that the filthiest member is
called turkey buzzard. There are per-
sons who have laundering after common
or popular names of things, and affect to
dislike the true or scientific names which
are always the same among all the civil
lied nations. = american AgriculturiSt.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
INSECT STATISTICS.

Spiders have four paps tor spinning
their threads, each pap having 1000
holes, and the fine web itself is the union
of 1000 threads. No spider spins more
than four webs, and when the fourth is
destroyed they seize on the webs of
others. A single female house fly pro
duces in one season 20,0S0,320. A wasp's
nest usually contains $4,000 or 10000
cells. A queen bee will lay 1000 eggs
daily for fifty days and the eggs are
Matched in three days. A swarm of bees
contains 10000 to 10000 in a natural
state, in hive from 10000 to 10000 bees.
Every pound of cochineal contains 10000
insects boiled TO death, and from 100000
to 100000 pounds are annually brought
to Europe for scarlet and crimson dyes.
Two thousand nine hundred silk worms
are required to produce one pound Of
silk; but it takes $1,000 spiders to pro-
duce one pound of web.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
The second is loyalty.

This involves perfect confidence and
csndor in the various members. Where
the great law of the household is love,
this needs not to be enioined; where each
member is bound by the spirit of genuine
good will, loyalty or fidelity, each to each,
is comparatively easy; it assumes the as
pect of an instinct, rather than of moral
obligation; but where, as is too often the
case, discordant elements are introduced,
this sentiment Of loyalty, or high sense
of honor, must take it's place.
The four walls inclosing household
should be regarded as sacred now as in
the olden time, when the hearthstone was
sacred to the genial, peace-loving Hestia,
and the Penates were worshiped in the
penetralia Of every dwelling. Here was
set up the domestic altar, distinct from
all outward and external observanoes, and
regarded by the family alone.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
THE STORY OF AN OSTRICH.

While Sir John Lawrence was Viceroy
Of India and busted with great affairs,
such as putting 100000 children into
state-aided schools, $4,000 of the num-
Der girls who hitherto had been despised;
also making wonderful improvements in
jails and barracks, introducing railroads
and telegraphs, and becoming, as Flor
ence Nightingale said, the father Of san
itary measures in India, he yet listened
to the petitions Of very humble people,
and interested himself in doing kind acts
to the lowly.
This anecdote illustrative of Sir John
Lawrence's kindness of heart, es-
pecially where young children were con-
cerned, should be preserved. Early in
1864 an ostrich, domiciled in the Vice
regal park at Barrackpore, happened to
deposit her first egg on the grass, ex
posed to the inclement climate of that
time of the year. and the attacks of jack
ais and foxes. 1t was picked up by the
daughter Of the park keeper, a girl of
eight or nine years. Her father had died
shortly before this time. Proud of her
discovery, she carried it off to the bun
galow, and, having learned something of
the habits OF the ostrich in it's native Sa-
hara, she got some dry white sand, put it
into idless box, and half burying the
egg within it, exposed the whole, in the
brightest spot she could find, to the mid
day sun, and when evening came, she
would transfer it, box and all, to the care
Of hen, whose eggs she removed each
day for the purpose. Strange to say, the
hen took kindly to the task and in due
time the monster chick was Matched
The foster mother took to flight at the
sight of her offspring. But the girl sup
piled its place, and the young ostrich
used too follow her about, from place to
place, share the bungalow with her, and
eat off her table. But the fatal day came
when new park keeper was appointed
and almost his first act was to claim the
bird as government property.
1t was accordingly carried of to the
Government aviary. The little girl, bro
ken-hearted at the loss of her pet, took
to her bed and became seriously i'll. But
kind hearted military surgeon, who
happened to be calling on the widowed
mother to see il he could do anything
for her, heard the sad story. Through
his means it reached the ears of Sir John
Lawrence at Simls, who by return Of
post ordered that the bird should be at
once restored to it's righttul owner.
There was joyful meeting between the
two friends; the little girl soon left her
bed, and, on returning to England few
weeks later, with her mother, she carried
with her the gigantic pet which had been
born and bred amidst such curious vicis-
situdes.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
FACTS ABOUT THE eIRLE.

A prisoner, condemned to solitary con-
finement; obtained copy of the Bible,
and by three years. careful study obtained
the following facts: The Bible contains g..
5S6,489 letters, 1882 words, 31,173
verses, 1889 chapters and Sc books. The
word "and" occurs 46,277 times; the
word "Lord" occurs 1856 times; the
word Reverend" occurs but once, which
is in the 9th verse of the 111th Psalm. The
middle verse is the 9Th verse of the 18th
Psalm. The 21st verse of the 7th chap
ter OF Ezra, contains all the letters of the
alphabet except the letter j. The finest
chapter to read is the Goth chapter of the
Acts of the Apostles. The 10Th chapter,
of III Kings and and the 9th chapter of
Isaiah are alike. The longest verse is
the 9th verse of the 9Th chapter of Esther.
The shortest verse is the 35th verse of
the 18th chapter of st. John. The 9Th,
18th, Dist, and 31st verses of the 10th
Psalm are alike. All Of the verses of the
136th Psalm end alike. There are no words
or names of more than six syllables each.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
MAKING AN HERBARIUM.

A pleasant way for young people to i'm
prove themselves in botany during the
summer vacation is to make an herbari-
UNI or collection Of pressed wild flow
ers. As it requires considerable skill
and patience to dry these fragile BIOS
SONS of the woods and fields, the points
to attend 10 are to dry the specimens
quickly, thoroughly and with pressure
that will not crush them. A good method
is to place each specimen in sheet of
brown paper and interpose several empty
sheets between each two OF those filled.
Then place them in the press-a napkin
press if one has one; if not few heavy
books may be used. Then press them
gently for the fret day or two-just
enough to prevent the leaves and flowers
from shrivelling. When the papers are
quite damp, separate them and spread
them on the floor of a room where they
can dry little. Return them to the
press, increasing the weight. Repeat
this daily until the flowers are quite dry.
They can then be laid away or pasted
into blank books, classified or numbered.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
ROYAL TITLES.

Anent the fittieth anniversary of her &C.
cession it may be observed that the "style
Royal Of Queen Victoria differs greatly
from that of any of her predecessors;
and this, too, without regarding Lord
Beaconfeld's magniloquent addition,
Empress of India" William, the Con.
queror called himself simply "Rex Ang-
lorum," and William Rufus only trans
lated this into "Rnglelandes King"
Stephen took the Conqueror's title and
added "Dux Normanorum," and Henry
III. made it "Rex Angliae Dux Norman
MAE ct Aquitaniae." John first added
"Dominus Hiberniae" and Henry III.
proclaimed himself Rex Franciae. BLUFF
King Hal was of course the first Defend
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
Bart1r, 9tnit1e amd 6arden.
sUMMER.pRIJNrNc c,,pp.N-e

SUMMER-PRUNING CURRANTS.
Those who have not yet given the plan
OF summer pruning or pinching out the
growing tops from currant bushes a trial
should do go without delay, as it is while
In the full flush Of growth that the oper-
alton must be done to be successful. for it
not done until the wood gets hard and
requires cutting it had better be left al
together, as by that time the under
leaves will have been SO blanched by the
dense top growth that they will fell off
when fully exposed. We go over our
bushes directly the leading shoots are
about six inches long and pinch the tops
out; the lower leaves then get strong and
remain on the busbes all the season, and
the buds at their base get very much
stronger than il all the strength we're al
lowed to rush up into the wood, which at
the winter pruning will be cut off. There
is really very little winter pruning to do
it summer pruning or pinching is attend
ed to, as the young wood that is left
gets go completely covered with flower
buds that one is 10th to cut any of it
away. Red and white currants are ap-
parently the most benefited by close
pruning, but black varieties are also
much improved by stopping the leading
shoots that are as high as they are
intended to be left for fruiting, the
young growths from the base for supply
ing new fruit-bearing shoots being left
intact. 1t is simply question of concen-
trating the forces Of the bush on fruit or
useless wood production.-VicE's Maga-
zine
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
HUMAN LIFE.

An article in a recent number of a
Northern magazine upon the duration of
human life has attracted great deal of
attention, and considerably stirred up
the daily press. In these days of lull in
politics, perhaps nothing could be more
attractive as subject of discussion than
longevity, and the chances of attaining
length of years. Here in Washington,
where the last census tells us more very
old people live than in any other part of
the country, according to population, the
subject must be interesting. The number
of very old men and women in the world
is rather remarkable. There are several
in this district who are over ninety years
OF age. The duration of human life is
very uncertain, but it is assured that the
extreme limit given by Scripture, four
score, is good deal under the truth.
The late Professor Faraday fixed the
duration OF life at one hundred years,
that being the age to which man ought
to live, and would live unless cut short
prematrrely by accident or his own crime
or carelessness. DIR. Farr entertained
the same view and supported it by the
strongest evidence from natural history
From twenty to forty, one is a young
man; from forty to sixty, middle aged;
from sixty to eighty, elderly, and from
eighty to one hundred, old.
Professor J. r. Buchanan agreed with
the other scientists on the subject, and
indeed went somewhat further than they.
He was convinced that both popular
opinion and the medical profession I'M
derated the limits of human longev-
ity, and declared that when men would
be bred and trained with as much care
as horses and cattle are, the limits OF life
would be placed at 140 years instead of
100.
1t is certain that human life is growing
an average longer than usual, although
we cannot show such extreme cases as
old Parr, Thomas Jenkins, and the old
Countess OF Desmond. In the present
century the average duration of life has
been increased twelve years in civilized
countries, in despite of our reckless man.
ner of living and disregard of everything
OF sanitary character. There is very lit
tie doubt that human life could be
heightened beyond century, but as the
New Orleans Times Democrat pertinent
ly remarks, this requires temperance in
all things, that we should work just
enough but not too long, avoid alcoholic
drinks, tobacco, rich food, overeating and
drinking, and necessitates the living of a
quiet, regular life, free from all excite
ment and worry, and hence the knowl-
edge is OF theoretical rather than practi-
cal value. We can live beyond 100 years
perhaps 40, but only when well to do, SO
as to avoid excessive labor and able to
live in climate which suits us best, and
by avoiding and refusing all those pleas
uree and epjoyments which form 90 i'm.
portant part of our life. And the ques-
ton arises is life without its pleasures
really worth living?- Washington Ga
zette.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
A BUNCH OF WILD FLOWERS

In passing through clover field,
Gull nosegay wild and sweet,
Of flowers, wind-sown, at my feet
Blooming among the meadow grass,
They nestle timid as pass
But gay as any lawn could yield.
Feathery sprays of elder bloom,
And daisies bright as stars of gold,
With milkweeds pink and orange mold.
A head of rye, head of wheat,
Some clover blossoms pink and sweet,
I choose to deck my study room.
In passing through this life of ours,
We find our dullest days a-light
With blessings hidden half from sight.
Among the weeds of toll and strife
Are loving deeds that brighten life,
Scattered along our path like flowers.
-Vick's Magazine for August.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
THE MEANING OF BONANZA.


In an English magazine an attempt is
made to give series Of Americanisms;
that is to say, words coined or invented
in America. Under the word Bonanza"
the definition is given-"Spanish, a big
scheme by which, honestly or otherwise,
much money is made" Upon this critic
pounces and says that bonanza means
"good fortune" or "good luck" Bonanza
is indeed Spanish word, and very nat
urally came into use in California or
Nevada. But it does not mean ga big
scheme" or good luck" 1t is nautical
"a ea-going-word, and means fair
weather at sea. If the reader will refer to
st. Matthew viii. &c, he will read that after
the Lord rebuked the wind and the sea,
"there was a great calm" And if refer
ence is next had to the Spanish version
of the New Testament he will find the
phrase there given, una grGnda bonanza.
1t is easy to understand how the word
came into it's fiRurative use-as meaning
a happy calm and good hope after weary
search.